Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

There are many reasons that we are seeing more overweight children than we used to. Portion sizes when eating out are larger, kids often get less exercise. More time is spent in front of the TV and computer. One out of five kids is now overweight, and they are at risk for being overweight adults. There is more risk if parents are also overweight, and if siblings are also. Some of it may be genetic, but a similar environment is a factor too. Parents should be supportive of overweight kids and try to be a good example. Increasing levels of exercise and watching family food choices can help. Pay attention to what food choices are offered at school and avoid upsizing fast food meals. Be aware of calories in sugared drinks, and use of food as rewards and punishment is not a good idea.

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Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine if a child is overweight or obese. It is calculated using a child's weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens.

A child's weight status is determined using an age- and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI categories used for adults because children's body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Growth Charts are used to determine the corresponding BMI-for-age and sex percentile. For children and adolescents (aged 2-19 years):

Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.

Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.

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Childhood obesity is at the forefront of many people's minds, and health officials have even labeled the condition as an epidemic based on its prevalence in the United States. It’s a serious issue that causes children to be five times more likely to grow into obese teenagers and adults, which can jeopardize their health.

Data have shown that childhood obesity rates are on the decline among low-income preschoolers in some states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observed reduced obesity rates in 18 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands from 2008 to 2011. The researchers looked at the weights and heights of about 11.6 million children ages two to four who were involved in federally funded maternal and child nutrition programs. The bad news: Obesity rates stayed the same in 21 of the 43 states and territories surveyed, and went up in three states.

Although obesity remains epidemic, the tide has begun to turn for some kids in some states. While the changes are small, for the first time in a generation they are going in the right direction.

Overall, childhood obesity rates have remained fairly level after more than tripling since the early 1980s. Public health experts hope that the new findings represent a shift in the way parents are monitoring their children’s health. It’s hard to pinpoint the cause of the decline, but it may show the promise of recent campaigns to help parents improve the diet and exercise routines of their children.

Weight can be an emotional issue for all involved, and children become increasingly aware of this as they get older. It is important to communicate effectively with children about healthy lifestyle choices and try to structure family activities to appropriately encourage them. Your thoughts on weight issues may be different than those of your child; it is important to reach a common ground, because everyone internalizes the issue differently.

Roughly one in three American children today is overweight; doctors will begin looking at body mass index (BMI) in children at the two-year well-child visit to determine if the child is trending toward overweight at an early age. They work with families to come up with a plan that addresses both nutrition and exercise, ensuring a healthy trajectory going forward. Because children naturally want to be active, most of these behaviors can be easily modified by motivated parents, reducing issues later in life.

Weight-loss surgery is the answer when a patient has a BMI (body mass index) between 35 and 40, or about 75 pounds overweight and has an obesity-related disease, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea; or when a patient has a BMI greater than 40, or is at least 100 pounds overweight, with or without medical problems.

Effective solutions to childhood obesity should include a supporting role and a healthier lifestyle for the entire family. Consider changing family routines to include more outdoor activities and a new menu. If you need help with meal planning, seek out a dietician or a nutritionist who can create healthy menus for family meals, school lunches and snacks. A variety of nutritional planning programs are available at community events and from your doctor’s office. Consider visiting the website, We Can, a free national fitness program that offers an online meal-planning tool and family-friendly activities.

Up to one in every five children in the U.S. is overweight or obese, and the numbers are rising. Children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults, but overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults. Children spend hours watching television and playing video games, and that sedentary lifestyle plays a vital role in the prevalence of obesity.

Studies have shown that overweight parents often have overweight children. The health risks associated with being overweight are passed down through generations.

Some tips to help your children reduce their risk for becoming obese are exercising through play and sports, making meal time “family time” by enlisting the help of kids in the kitchen and filling meals with colorful vegetables and lean meats, stopping negative self-talk, being cognitive of what you say in front of your children, and making family time together active.

Shaming overweight kids is never a good idea. Watch this video to learn why a group of doctors featured on The Dr. Oz Show believe making kids feel bad about their weight is more akin to bullying than tough love.

If the initial diet you expose your child to is very high in grain carbohydrates and fats, then you may be setting your child up for a lifetime of struggle with obesity. A more varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy grains and proteins low in saturated fat, can be the key to a healthy weight and optimal weight gain milestones.

Encouraging movement as soon as your child becomes mobile is also crucial to healthy growth patterns and avoiding weight issues. If a child who should be crawling is instead sitting in front of a TV for hours of viewing time, the outcome can easily be larger weight gains and an overall higher level of body fat by the time they are school age.

When you begin to introduce finger foods to your baby, offer whole grain/high fiber cereals, but also consider serving edamame, small cubes of baked butternut squash and sweet potato, and very ripe, soft cubes of fruit, without the skin on.